Checkout stand for self-service stores and the like



April 10, 1956 w. GEORGE CHECKOUT STAND FOR SELF-SERVICE STORES AND THE LIKE Filed June 5, 1952 IN VEN TOR. Wfl/z'am L. 6e

ari Q 5M4 ATTORNEY.

United States Patent CHECKOUT STAND FOR SELF-SERVIOE STORES AND THE LIKE William L. George, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor to Spec-Dee Checkout Systems, Inc, a corporation of Michigan Application June 5, 1952, Serial No. 291,955

2 Claims. (Cl. 312140.1)

This invention relates to improvements in checkout stand for self service stores and the like.

The principal objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a check stand which will eliminate fatigue of the operator by permitting the operator to move checked articles with a natural swinging motion and without requiring the operator to visually observe the direction of movement of the checked articles.

Second, to provide a check stand having a cash register supporting portion with an article receiving counter alongside of the cash register supporting portion, and a discharge counter extending arcuately from the article receiving counter along an arc conforming to the natural swing of an operators arm when the operator is facing the register supporting portion of the stand.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and claims. The drawings, of which there is one sheet, illustrate a highly practical form of my invention.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a checkout stand embodying my invention and illustrating the proper location for a cash register thereon in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the stand shown in Fig. 1.

The checkout stand includes an appropriate base or substructure 1 which is desirably arcuate in shape as at 2 along the outer side of the stand where the customer will pass along the stand. The front or leading end of the base is rounded as at 3, and is substantially wider than the trailing portion of the base to provide a cash register supporting portion 4 positioned inwardly of the arcuate contour of the base. The details of construction of the base are unimportant and are therefore not illustrated in great detail. However, the base may very desirably include suitable shelves 5 and other structure for supporting articles underneath the stand. The base is of course made sufficiently strong to support the load which will be placed thereon.

Supported on top of the base 2 is a semi-circular receiving counter 6 that extends across the leading arcuate end 3 of the base and the cash register supporting stand 4. Desirably the receiving counter may project radially beyond or overhang the base as at 7. The receiving counter is also desirably provided with a low guard rail 8.

Extending as an integral continuation of the receiving counter 6 is an arcuate discharge counter 9 that is positioned over and supported by the rear or trailing arcuate end 2 of the base. Desirably the arcuate discharge counter 9 is of uniform width and is therefore arcuate on both its inner and outer edges. However, the important 2,741,523 Patented Apr. 10, 1956 feature of the checkout stand is the relationship between the straight inner edge 10 of the cash register supporting portion of the receiving counter, and the arcuate inner edge 11 of the dischargecounter. With the discharge counter conformed as disclosed, an operator or checker can stand facing the cash register and observe and check articles placed on the receiving counter and alongside of the cash register. The checker can then move the checked articles rearwardly to the rear end of the discharge counter with a natural swinging motion of the left arm, and the operator does not have to turn around to observe where the discharged article is moving on the discharge counter. Desirably, a suitable stop 12 is positioned at the extreme end of the discharge counter and a suitable stand 13 may be provided for bagging the articles of a purchase.

I have thus described a highly practical form of my invention so that others may reproduce and use the same with further disclosure. Obviously, many features of the stand as disclosed may be changed or modified without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined in the following claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A checkout stand for self service stores comprising, a semi-circular article receiving and register supporting counter, an integral rectangular extension positioned along one radial edge of said semi-circular counter and c0- extensive with said one radial edge to enlarge the register supporting sector of the semi-circular counter, and an arcuate discharge counter extending as an integral continuation of the other radial edge of said semi-circular counter and along the adjacent radially inner end of said rectangular extension as an integral continuation of the rectangular extension, said discharge counter projecting beyond and curving concavely around the exposed adjacent side of said rectangular extension, the radially inner edge of said discharge counter intersecting said exposed adjacent side of said rectangular extension at less than an obtuse angle.

2. A checkout stand for self service stores comprising, a semi-circular article receiving and register supporting counter, a rectangular extension positioned along one radial edge of said semi-circular counter and co-extensive with said one radial edge to enlarge the register supporting sector of the semi-circular counter, and an arcuate discharge counter extending as a continuation of the other radial edge of said semi-circular counter and along the adjacent radially inner edge of said rectangular extension, said discharge counter projecting beyond and curving concavely around the exposed adjacent side of said rectangular extension, the radially inner edge of said discharge counter intersecting said exposed adjacent side of said rectangular extension at less than an obtuse angle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,888,742 Schumm Nov. 22, 1932 2,237,080 Muse Apr. 1, 1941 2,242,408 Turnham May 20, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS 462,611 Great Britain Mar. 12, 1937 

